10 Steps to a Successful Year for Your Interior Design Business

10 Steps to a Successful Business YearA new year
causes most of us to stop and reflect on past successes and failures and what
we want to accomplish in the next 12 months. You may have New Year's
resolutions or on-going goals. Honestly assessing your position in your field
and thinking strategically about your where you want your business or career to
be at year's end will move you towards the goals you have for this year and
beyond. The following ten steps will assist you in creating a written guide to
follow throughout the year.

1. Review
your goals from last year.

Which did you meet and which ones did you miss?
Decide goals that should be carried over into this year, and the ones that can
be put aside for later or disregarded altogether.

2. What
challenges or obstacles did you encounter last year?

List how you dealt
with them and the outcomes - whether you were successful or not - and how you
will avoid them in the future.

3. Define
your passion.

What do you really want to be doing? Are you doing it, or is
your current career or business taking you in the direction of your dream? If
not, how can you reconcile what you are doing now with what you want to do?

4. Define
your ideal client:

What do they look like? Where do they live or work? How
much money do they have to spend? What type of project will they present you
with? What will your working relationship be like?

5. Research
your competition - their clients, service offerings, and pricing -
especially your number one competitor.

6. Define
where your business will be in the next year.

This, along with Step 7, will
probably be the longest part of the process. Take some time to visualize how
your company or career will look. Walk through a typical day. Outline the
financials. Determine how you want to feel on December 31st.

7. Outline
the steps to make your goals for the next year a reality based on your plans
from Step 6.

Begin with a general outline, and then get more detailed,
developing a monthly worksheet or guide.

8. Make sure
all of your marketing and public relations materials are consistent with the
message you want to promote over the next year.

Your business cards,
brochures, website, and social networking sites should communicate your brand.

9. Identify
three ways to meet and engage the clients described in Step 4.

Define the
meeting location. Work on an appealing opening line and your elevator pitch,
and describe how you can meet their needs.

10. Find an
accountability partner - someone who you know will hold you responsible and
will question you throughout the year to make sure you follow through with your
goals and objectives.

By Karen A.
Davis

Image by Jose Antonio Sánchez Reyes

Karen A. Davis
has over 20 years experience in the architecture, construction and facilities
management fields. She is founder and president of Building Industry Resources
(http://www.buildingsource.net),
a company that provides marketing, business development and technical support
services, and managing partner with KARMIS, LLC, a construction and facilities
consulting firm. Ms. Davis is also a college instructor and author.